Radiator cap



Jam. 15;,51929. 1,699,313

' H. SCHLAICH RADIATOR CAP Filed March 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 26 "id 27 lNV TOR ATTORNEYS Jan'. 15, 1929 H. SCHLAICH RADIATOR GAP Filed March 1924 Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERMAN SCHILAICK OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, B Y-HESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO THE KINGSLEY-MILLER POBATION O]? ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACOR- umnron oar,

Application fled larch 4,

This invention relates to an improvement in caps for the filling necks of theradiators of water cooled internal combustion engines for automobiles or the like. f i It is one of the objects of theinvention to provide a radiator cap which is adapted especially for carrying a motor heat indicator of a well known type and is so constructed that heat indicators of different sizes can be mounted and centered upon the cap without necessitating a change in the size or construction of the cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinged radiator cap in which the pivot or hinge is located substantially within the confines of the cap so that the symetrical appearance of the cap will not be marred by projecting hinge lu s or the like as in the rior radiator caps oi this type. Another 0 ject of the invention is to provide a means for securing the packing washers between the cap and the fillin neck so that they cannot be forced out of their normal position when pressure is applied to make fluid tight joint between the fillin neck and the cap.

Various other 0 jects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention proceeds. i

This application constitutes a continuation in part of my co-pending application 607,937 filed December 20, 1922.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate preferred forms of embodiment of the invention, I

Figure 1 is an elevation of the cap as it appears from the front of the automobile showing a heat indicator of a well-known type mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cap shown in Figure 1, showing details of the constructionthereo V Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the cap provided with an adapter for fitting thesame on an exteriorly threaded radiator neck.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing how the cap is mounted on the radiator neck of a Ford automobile.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the heat indicator removed and the hinged portion of the cap in raised position.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

The cap comprises a circular body portion 1 p 1924. semi No. 696,512]

A depression 10is found in the top of the cover 5 at approximatel the center thereof and a hole 11 is made t rough the cover at the center of the depression for permitting the stem 12 of the heat indicator 13 to project through the cover and intothe topof the radiator. To permit the same cap tobeused with heat indicators of different sizes and types the depression 10 is made the samedipression 10, as shown in Fi ure 2. The hole 11 1s made of substantially t e same diameter as thestem 12 of the largersize heat indicator so that although the base 152 of the larger size indicator does not fit within the depression 10, the indicator is securely held centered on the cap by theclose fit ,between the stem 12 and the hole 11 as illustrated in Figure 4. p A

To latch the cap in closed position the body 1 is provided with a lug 6 to each side of which is pivoted a link 7, as shown in Figures 2, 5 and6. A cam lever 8 is -pivotedbetween the links 7 at their opposite end and is adapted to slip over and engage the lug 9 on the cover to hold the same tightly closed. To permit the end of the stem 12 to clear the front portion of the opening 16 through the cap, when the lid 5 is swung open or closed on the pivot 6 the o ening 16 is located eccentric to the body of t e cap (see Figures 5 and 6) so that theledge 17 is wider at the rear of ameter as thebase 14. of the smaller size heat indicator so that :when the nut 15 is screwed onto the stem12 of the indicator the base .14

willbedrawn into and centered in the dean unsightly projecting hinge. An annular groove 18 in the top of this ledge supports a soft rubber ring 19, which contacts with the eccentric level or ridge 20 on the underneath portion of the cover to make a fluidtight seal between the cover and body portion when the cover is closed.

The features referred to in the preceding paragraph are disclosed and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 15,710, filed March 16, 1925 for radiator caps, which application is a continuation in part of'this application.

The cap may be directly secured to a shouldered radiator neck as illustrated in Figure 4., orit may be attached to straight necks by means of applied shoulder pieces as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 so that the one size and type of cap may be fitted to various radlator necks.

In Figure 1 the cap is shown as fitted directly upon the filling neck 21 of a Ford automobile radiator and secured thereto by the set screws 22 which engage the underside of the neck flange or shoulder 23. A packing washer 2t is inserted between the ledge 17 and the top of the filling neck 21, and to prevent this washer from being pushed out of position when the cap and neck are forced together to make a fluidtight seal, a shallow groove or channel 25 is made in the ledge 17 near the outer portion thereof so that when the washer 24 is compressed between the neck 21 and the cap 1, a portion of the washer will be pushed into the groove 25 and will prevent the washer from being squeezed out from between the neck and the cap thus effecting a water and steam tight joint and effectively disposing of the dilficulties com-' monly experienced with narrow gasket hearing surfaces.

In order to lock the cap 1 and the heat indicator 13 against theft angular holes or sockets 22 (Figure 3) are provided in the set screws 22 and in the nut 15. The wrench openings in these set screws 22 may be plugged with lead shot or the like 22 after the screws have tightened, so that the screws may he loosened only by first digging out the shot.

Tofit the cap on internally threaded radiator necks asshown in Figure 2 the shouldered member 26 may be used. This member is threaded at its lower end 27 to screw into the threads in the radiator neck 21 a set screw 22 being provided for locking the sleeve to the neck. The upper end of member 26 fits within the opening of the cap, and is provided with a beveled surface 28 against which the set screws 22 of the cap may bear to lock the cap in place.

The adapter 29 shown in Figure 3 may be used to attach the cap to externally threaded radiator necks 21*. This adapter comprises an internally threaded portion 30 which screws upon the radiator neck and an inwardly extending flange 30 which rests upon a washer 31 to make a fluid tight seal between the neck and the adapter. The cap 1 fits over the adapter 29 and is secured thereto by the set screws 22 which engage the beveled portion 32 of the adapter. The washer 2st provides a fluid tightseal between the adapter and the cap.

It is obvious, of course, that the size or shape of the adapter may be varied so as to enable the cap to be attached to filling necks of different sizes or'shapes from those shown.

That the convenience, appearance and gen eral usefulness of my improved cap may be further enhanced, I have also provided the improved construction features shown in Figures 5 and 6.

In compliance with the patent statutes, I have illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of my invention but it is to be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A radiator cap attachable to a radiator neck having means thereon forming a flange or collar, comprising a cap body having a skirt portion surrounding and covering the flange or collar, and means carried by said skirt portion and operable against the lower face of said flange or collar with a camming action to clamp the cap body down upon the neck.

2. A device for retaining a radiator cap body to a shouldered radiator neck, comprising a cap body fitting over and contacting with the upper surface of said shoulder, a furtherpor-tion of said body extending below said shoulder and means mounted in the said further portion and projectablc therethru to engage the lower surface of said shoulder with a camming action to press the cap down upon the neck.

3. In retaining devices for radiator caps, a shoulder ring lockedto the radiator neck, a cap body having an internal bore fitting over said ring and projecting therebeyond, and

means mounted in the projecting body por tion operable to engage said shoulder with a camming action, for clamping the cap to the ring and to the radiator neck engaged thereby.

4. In retaining devices for securing radiator caps to shouldered radiator necks, a cap body having a bore fitting over the top and shoulder of said neck, securing means simultaneously engaging said body and the underside of said shoulder, to draw said body downward upon said neck and to prevent relative motion therebetween, and means for preventing the retraction of the securing means.

5. In combination, a radiator cap constructed for attachment to a shouldered radiator neck, comprising a body arranged to fit around such radiator neck shoulder and body retaining means carried by the body and engageable with the shoulder for holding the body in p1ace and an adapter removabl inserted Within the cap body and three able onto a straight radiator neck, said adapter being constructed to cooperate with the body retaining means similarly to the shoulder of the shouldered radiator neck for retaining the body in place.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature to this specification.

HERMAN SCHLAICH. 

